Tag Archives: Free People

I seem to get more work done if I am dressed – that is, out of pajamas and into real clothes, as though I am actually going somewhere. Today after an amazing hike at Green Lakes and some sunbathing on my deck (what a beautiful day!), I bathed and donned my Equipment leather dress then set out to organize paperwork for my Schoology platform.

I also scheduled some Zoom meetings and emailed students about them and about other stuff. It wasn’t technically supposed to be a workday, but I like to have things ready – email on Sunday nights so that students can work on their artwork on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Here are my outfits of the day for the month of March 2020. No more school for a while. I just discovered a show on ABC called Schooled to help with my school withdrawal. It is almost as funny as the silly things kids say at real school. It’s set in the ’90s, which is when I started working at my job. Back then I think my fashion look was sort of Monica from Friends.

Welcome to my world. Here are my 2020 #ootd school pictures thus far. My Studio in Art students have been painting with acrylics – these paintings are going to blow your mind. They are sooooo good!!!!! I think they only need a couple more weeks to complete them. I have been wearing stuff that wouldn’t freak me out if it got paint on it. I guess I am saying that fashion is taking a backseat at the moment. I’m a control freak about the brushes – I tell them to use however many they want and need, and I will wash them, so, I spend about twenty minutes washing brushes on my lunch period every day.

Today was the first day of the 2nd semester, believe it or not, which means we are already half-way through the year. I am giving pre-tests and prepping lessons – lots of cool things to come: oil pastels, collage, more paintings and clay!!! I’ll be switching up the artwork on the cabinets soon, as well as eventually organizing the excessive amount of white paint on that back counter, lol, for those of you who scoff at the mess. (It is an art room, after all – that’s what makes it fun and funny). Special thanks to Katy C., my colleague and photographer, who laughs with me every day. <3

Pam and I ventured into Camillus, New York territory tonight to attend a Michelle DaRin Jewelry trunk show at Synple (70 Main Street, Camillus, New York 13031). Michelle’s new pieces are vibrantly bold yet feminine talismans. Each piece is uniquely handmade. I loved everything!!!

This quaint village shoppe is the brainchild of fine artist, art therapist, stationery designer, mother and retailer Kelly Landau. The merchandising is picture perfect.

Synple is a comfortable nook in the heart of the village where you will find friendly people who are passionate about their merchandise – housewares, clothing (Free People is a mainstay), jewelry (including a selection of Michelle DaRin pieces), candles, soaps and all sorts of amazing gifts, treats and stationery.

The Made in the Deep South items are currently 50% off until they are gone. I want that beige cowhide bracelet with the crystal jewel!

Hours of operation are Wednesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Kelly is currently working on updating the store’s website. For more information on merchandise and future events such as this one with Michelle, give their Facebook page a LIKE. Here is the link.

Next up for Michelle – a show at The Finger Lakes Academy of Decorative Arts this Friday and Saturday. Information is on their Facebook LIKE page here. <3

I am wearing Marc Jacobs boots in every one of these shots. They are perfection. Although we had a minor snowy-storm thing-a-ma-gig on Friday, we are mostly finished with snow in Syracuse. These shoes all have leather soles. They are not for wearing on salted driveways, parking lots and sidewalks.

Here are my looks for January and February 2019. I started with new students so we are easing into the mess. Three students got paint on their clothes on Friday, lol, and one slapped her painting into her chin while attempting to place it on the drying rack. Another got paint on the back of his forearm. What is that about??? Of course, I made it through the week unscathed. I am a professional, as you know.

Disclaimer – I have a couple of repeats here. I tried to change it up, but you will notice that I have those over-the-knee Karl Lagerfeld boots in two colors and about four or five similar Free People cardigans. And – I just bought the Theory Malinka belted cashmere cardigan in three different colors! I still want the black one too, if I can find it.

I know what I like and when I find something that works, I want it any way I can get it. My new desires include the Joe’s Jeans leather cropped pants in all three colors, more Theory sweaters and I have my eye on a white BCBGMaxAzria gown (for no particular reason) and a couple more Rachel Zoe things. I also have 3.1 Phillip Lim on my radar and, of course, more silk Ulla Johnson dresses.

Here are my #ootd pictures from November 2018. The black cropped leg BCBGMaxAzria pants go with everything! I ended up getting a second pair because they are so spectacular. Not sure why they were not made in other colors. I love silk as well, and silk velvet is soooo amazing! I’m sure my dry cleaner loves that I wear it too, lol.

Cinq a Sept silk dress, Via Spiga tights, Sorel boots

I was able to incorporate my Wonder Woman boots (above) in this one! They are Sorel – I think I paid one third of the retail asking price for them, maybe less!

It is fun keeping track of fashion because I can see what combinations I have done with separates – what items go with what, and as a result, I can assess what one new thing I may bring into the mix that will serve me best. The morning I put this look together (above), I was, like, how do these two things match? – that is so cool! That Kobi Halperin top is embroidered cotton – very wonderful texture in person. There is a version of it in all white hiding somewhere in the universe for me to find.

Rebecca Taylor silk top, BCBGMaxAzria silk-velvet pants, Joie sandals

Rebecca Taylor has a new concept right now where you can pay a monthly fee and rent up to four garments at a time to wear until you want to give them back and then get more. I have my eye on a few pieces from her holiday collection right now. Go to www.rebeccataylor.com for more information.

This BCBGMaxAzria gown (above) was my outfit for my annual Friendsgiving dinner. About twenty-five of us dined together at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse. It had been hanging in my closet for two years and so, I was very psyched to have an opportunity to wear it. I sewed bra cups into the lining because the bodice neckline made it difficult to find undergarments that worked. Easy-peasy!

I found this Alice + Olivia silk-velvet halter top on a final sale on saksoff5th.com. I think it was $40? Something like that! It is my new favorite thing. I paired it with those black cropped pants seen in every other pic, lol, for a trip to the movies last night.

This year I made a lot of dreams come true Halloween-wise. I have wanted this Wonder Woman outfit since I saw the movie last year. I scoured the Internet, specifically Amazon.com and found every piece of this costume except the boots. And they were on a ridiculous sale at saksoff5th.com – an additional 30% off the sale price. I love them!

My Calvin Klein patent leather booties made three appearances this Halloween, the BCBGMaxAzria cropped pants, two! And that split sleeve jacket worked its way into two costumes as well!

Free People jacket, BCBGMaxAzria top and pants, Calvin Klein booties

I chaperoned the Halloween dance at school, went to a party at Wildflowers Art Gallery, danced to the disco band Fondu at the Rocky Horror event at The Palace theater and sang karaoke at my friend Jimmy’s annual Halloween bash at his home.

But my favorite dream, even more amazing than being Wonder Woman for a day, was dressing as a Mousekateer at school. I used to watch re-runs of the original black and white TV show when I was a kid and I have always wanted my own Mickey Mouse hat complete with red satin bow on top. The leather skirt was the very last they had at Freepeople.com. It was a size 0 and miraculously fit perfectly. Thank you, Maria at SewMaria Boutique for giving me pointers on how to attach the letters to my sweater (dry iron – no steam). It was scary because the spare top I had is cashmere and that turtleneck is far too itchy! I was praying to not mess up, lol, and yes, it all worked out.

Panreddy sweater, Free People skirt, Mia shoes

Lately, I’ve been living by the mantra “everything is always working out for me.” My mom even had three Mickey Mouse dolls to choose from, which would seem so random, but then again, she has everything. Like you could ask her to produce a yo-yo circa 1972 and it just magically appears inside the kitchen junk drawer. Nothing is really a coincidence. Life is truly a dream. Living a lucid dream.